Leadership in Action

Girl Scout Ambassador Emily Rogic was a special guest at a luncheon held at Town Point Club and hosted by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast Board Chair Cheryle Mack. The luncheon, the President’s Lunch, is held each year by the current Council’s board chair and is a way to help former leadership members stay connected with Girl Scouts and hear from a girl member who is an up and coming leader.

Emily is striving to earn the Gold Award, the highest award a girl may earn in Girl Scouts. She’s been a Girl Scout for 10 years and has been involved in many leadership building opportunities, including the Hampton Roads Chamber’s eXcel Leadership program. Her Gold Award project, Diamonds in the Rough, was approved in August. She plans to carry out activities throughout most of the school year to complete the project which will make more people aware of the human impact on Diamondback Terrapin turtles.

“I would like to educate our community on the simple things that it can do to help reduce the human impact on Diamondback Terrapin turtles,” Emily said. “I am planning on holding workshops and being at events - two Lynnhaven River NOW events, next spring's Earth Day event at Mt. Trashmore and workshops at Bayside library and the Virginia Aquarium. To help promote my initiative beyond the events, I will post photos, facts and update on the local Terrapins on Twitter and Facebook.”

Diamondback Terrapin turtles are a species of concern. Today, they face many threats, some of which can be easily controlled by our community. Emily wants to convey to the public that by changing some personal habits, we can make a tremendous impact on the species survival.

“Turtles mean so much to me. I grew up vacationing at Bald Head Island learning about the threatened loggerhead sea turtles. I want to make sure Terrapins have a chance.”

While girls going for the Gold do amazing projects, girls of all ages in Girl Scouts are involved in making the world a better place through their community service and take action efforts - living the Girl Scout Promise in their daily lives!